Student Programs

Art Instruction

Thanks to the contributions of One Community, our students have had multiple exposures to art in many different forms. The Art Docents of Los Gatos provide hands-on workshops and print presentations for students leading up to the annual District Art Show where each and every child will have a piece of artwork on exhibit. In addition, The Guest Artist Program brings a professional Bay Area artist to each of the elementary schools for an entire school day. These and many more teacher-led classroom lessons inspire the artist in every child and instill an appreciation for art. 

  

Instrumental and Vocal Music

The K-5 music program utilizes music teachers who work with teachers to provide a core foundation of classroom music instruction. All K-5 students receive vocal music. In primary grades, students are introduced to music elements through rhythm, movement, and song. Students in Grade 4 are introduced to the violin and the flutophone. Grade 5 students are given the option of continuing violin, learning a different instrument (cello, flute, clarinet, trumpet, or trombone), or participating in vocal instruction. The music curriculum is aligned with the District adopted standards for Arts Education as well as State and National Standards for Music Education. Twice per year, students in all grades put on a performance for the entire school community to showcase what they have learned. 

 

World Language

K-5 students learn Spanish throughout the year from a credentialed Spanish language teacher.

Technology

Technology is an important part of the educational program and environment. Each classroom is equipped with iPads and/or Chromebooks. Students work on specific projects and programs that enhance the classroom curriculum and align with our district technology standards, as well as learn how to access and utilize appropriate Internet resources for research and projects. 

 

Library/Media Center

The school library has books and resource materials available to students of all reading levels and in every subject area and is now fully automated. Each class has a period of library time each week when students are introduced to literature, storytelling, and research skills. The library is staffed with a librarian who uses parent volunteers to assist with checking out and re-shelving books.

 

The library is open from 8:00-2:45 Monday through Friday. Kindergarten students do not check out books from the library, since they have a special program that allows them to bring home library books that are presented in class on a daily basis. Students in Grades 1-5 may check out two books per week.

 

Project Cornerstone

Project Cornerstone is a countywide initiative. The principles of the program are based on research by the Search Institute. The main goal of the program is to increase children’s developmental assets (41 in total) in an effort to create positive life outcomes. Developmental assets are experiences, values, relationships, opportunities, and competencies that all children and youth need.

 

ABC Reader Program: Once a month an adult volunteer reads a specified book in their assigned classroom and facilitates activities and discussions based on the book. Each book is aimed at developing positive social skills and building one or more of the developmental assets. Students are given a common language and ideas about how to address real issues they have or will likely face. Parents can find out more about each book through the Cornerstone Corner in the Beehive and the ABC Reader parent letters that come home with your children.

 

Physical Education

All students receive weekly PE instruction with a trained PE specialist to supplement their regular classroom PE program. The district employs a full-time PE teacher to provide weekly instruction to all fourth and fifth students. One Community LG sponsors the primary Spark PE program, which provides instruction twice per week to our kindergarten through third grade students. During P.E., students participate in a variety of grade-level-appropriate activities and sports and are graded on effort rather than skill. Students in Grade 5 take the California Fitness Test, which measures students’ aerobic capacity, body composition, muscular strength, endurance, and flexibility using six different tests.

 

Mileage Club
The Mileage Club program is offered on an ongoing basis to promote fitness. It is an optional lunchtime program, operated by parent volunteers. Students participating run/walk laps around a marked path on the field, collecting tokens for benchmarked laps. Awards for highest mileage are presented each year at a school-wide assembly. 

Child Assistance Team (CAT)
Student assistance/intervention plans begin with the classroom teacher and parent working together to try different classroom strategies to help the child succeed. The classroom teacher has access to a variety of specialists for consultation and support.  Based on data and student progress, the teacher may coordinate additional services with specialists on campus.  These include but are not limited to the reading specialists, math specialists, speech and language therapists, and school counselors.    In the event that a student is not making progress with the supports provided in the classroom or by intervention plans, the team may consider a referral to special education for a comprehensive team assessment.  

 

Counseling

Our counselor provides services to children through frequent in classroom lessons, small group,  1:1 counseling and other programs, which focus on building social skills and positive peer relationships.

 

English Learners (EL)

Students needing assistance in learning English meet regularly with the English Language Development teacher. The English Learners program supplements regular classroom work. We assess English learners against English-language development standards until they attain English proficiency.

 

 

Our counselor provides services to children through 1:1 counseling and Friendship Groups, which focus on building social skills and positive peer relationships.

 

Students needing assistance in learning English meet with the English Learners teacher twice during the week. The English Learners program supplements regular classroom work. We place second-language students with teachers who are Cross-cultural Language and Academic Development (CLAD) certified. We assess English learners against English-language development standards until they attain English proficiency.

 

Our research-based reading intervention services provide critical support for our at-risk students. Students identified as being at-risk in reading, are referred to one of three programs. In grades K-1, students are giving support through the Early Literacy program focused on beginning reading skills. Students in second and third grade struggling with reading fluency participate in the Read Naturally program and students in grades 4-5 struggling with reading comprehension are referred to our SOAR program which focuses on specific reading strategies that strengthen comprehension skills.

 

The education psychologist participates as an active member of our Child Assistance Team (CAT) and tests children for possible learning disabilities

 

Students with learning disabilities in any academic area and who meet state guidelines for eligibility may attend this program for additional instructional assistance. Resource students stay in the regular classroom as much as possible but come to the RSP classroom to work in small groups or one on one in their area of difficulty. In the regular classroom they receive accommodations according to their Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).

 

Students experiencing difficulty in articulation or language development meet weekly with a specialist for specific instruction in their area of need.